Life Lessons Learned While Growing up on a Farm

Sometimes, moving away from home makes us realize what we appreciate most in life.  Take a look at what Katelyn Reist had to say about her transition from her hometown in Pennsylvania to veterinary school life in California! Thank you so much for sharing your perspective with us, Katelyn!

Life Lessons Learned While Growing up on a Farm

While attending elementary, middle, and high school, my classmates always asked, “What is it like to live on a farm?” I never really knew what to say because I have lived on a farm my entire life and never knew what it was like not to live on a farm. Living on a farm was just a part of my life and something that I learned to cherish. I have come to realize these past few years how grateful I am to grow up on a farm because it has instilled in me many valuable lessons and life experiences. These experiences will always be a part of me and have shaped me to become who I am today. 

I grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the heart of Amish country.  Although my family is not Amish, we have many wonderful Amish friends and neighbors. My family’s farm has been in our family for over six generations. Our home and barn were built by my great-great-grandfather! Currently, I help my family raising corn and soybeans. We have two horses as well as Angus cattle and Jersey oxen on our farm.

After moving to California for veterinary school and being immersed in a completely different environment, I learned to appreciate my childhood and felt grateful for the area in which I was raised. After moving to California, I began to miss Lancaster. I didn’t necessarily miss my family per say, but I missed the farmland, the large oak trees, the smell of “fresh air”, dairy cows grazing outside, mules working in the fields, the green grass, and yes, I missed the smell of organic fertilizer on the fields! Whenever I return home to Pennsylvania, I have a deeper appreciation of the area and what it is like living there. I feel like that is true about most people. We never really appreciate something until it is gone. Whether it be a possession, a family member who has passed, or simply moving to a new area. 

Living on a farm has taught me many valuable lessons which has helped me become the person I am today. Working hard is definitely something that I have learned while living on a farm. There is always something to do on a farm and one can certainly never say he/she is bored while living on a farm. Whether its mowing the grass, weed eating, fixing fences, or caring for livestock, there is always something to do! Growing up on a farm is hard work, but my family always makes work fun. Whether it is helping clean out horse stalls, pulling weeds in our vegetable garden, or staying up late planting corn, working on my family’s farm is enjoyable! I have also learned to appreciate the value of hard work after seeing how hard people in the past have worked compare to today. It is amazing at the farming technology that has been developed to make it easier to farm! Watching an Amish man plant corn with a team of mules versus planting corn with our tractor certainly has made me appreciate the lifestyle that I have. Certainly, much can be say about the Amish people’s dedication and hardworking lifestyle that they have as well. I think that no matter what each of our backgrounds are, there are people in our life who taught us to appreciate the value of hard work and dedication.  

“Slow down or by heck you might just cause a wreck!” This was a sign that my grandfather would put along the side of the road when it was time to harvest crops. Many people drive so quickly past our farm and he didn’t want anyone to accidentally run into the farm equipment as we were putting away equipment in the barn. Many times, we are in a hurry or too busy to enjoy the simple things in life. I feel like that can certainly be said about me now as I am in veterinary school and studying seems endless! It is hard to learn how to slow down and take time to enjoy nature around us. I think one of the things that I enjoy most about Lancaster County is the peacefulness that it offers. I like to take my time as I drive down a country road, looking at the farmland and livestock in the fields. As students, we need to remember to take time and enjoy the nature. It is very easy to get stuck behind a computer on Zoom and studying, but taking breaks to be outside or with friends/family certainly is beneficial! 

I feel like during the recent pandemic, many people seemed more kind to each other. I noticed that while I was at the grocery store or walking to the park, people were more willing to help each other out. I feel like difficult times brings people closer together. That can certainly be the same for living on a farm—when something doesn’t go the way you expect or plan, people come together to help each other out. Neighbors help neighbors. Many times after the corn was combined from the fields, there was corn fodder (the corn stalks) left on the ground. Most people would keep it in the fields for fertilizer for the following year, but some bale the fodder and use it for bedding horses. During the fall, our family would offer our corn fodder free of charge to an Amish neighbor, so that he can use it as bedding for his horses and mules over the winter. The family was very appreciative of our family’s kindness. Offering a helping hand to a person in need not only benefits the recipient, but it feels good to help someone out! I absolutely love the song sung by Glen Campbell, “Try a Little Kindness.” I feel as though a little kindness goes a long way!

Patience is certainly a trait that has been hard for me! Waiting in a long line or being stuck in traffic is something that I do not enjoy. One of the things about farming is that you can never predict how the season will go. On our farm, we raise corn and soybeans. In the past, we have raised hay as well as rye. Helping with planting these crops has taught me the value of patience as well as trust. Knowing that the thousands of seeds that you put in the corn planter or grain drill and ultimately into the field, will grow into a productive harvest is beyond our control. No matter how much fertilizer is placed on the crops, we need to remain patient and trust that the seeds will come up. In some years, we experience a frost which definitely impacts how the seed germinates.  Other summers, it is drought or excessive flooding. Understanding the importance of faith, trust, and patience is certainly beneficial as we go into the veterinary field as well!  

There are so many benefits to living on a farm and I would definitely not trade the experiences that I have had for anything in the world. It has shaped me to become the person I am today. No matter where we may grow up, whether it is on a farm or in the city, we all have experiences that shape who we are. It is important to understand that we use these experiences in our profession to help both animals as well as others who we may encounter.